Alevism in Malatya Akçadağ region with its socio-cultural dimensions

Although there are many academic studies on Alevism, field studies on this belief system have gained momentum in recent years. These studies in the field aimed to reveal the unknown characteristics of the Alevis, who have been a closed society for centuries. Even though Alevis living in different regions have the same belief, they have different cultural characteristics due to the events, joys, sorrows, oppression and persecution they have experienced, and so on. In this study, with the interviews and observations made in the field, findings about the belief practices and culture of the Alevis who lived for centuries in the Akçadağ region of Malatya province were obtained. In the research, it is aimed to reveal the socio-cultural structure of the belief world of the Alevis in the Akçadağ region. In order to obtain comprehensive and in-depth information in line with the purpose stated in the research, the phenomenology design, one of the qualitative research designs, was preferred as a method. Alevi citizens residing in various neighborhoods of Malatya Akçadağ District, which were determined by the snowball sampling model, were included in the research. During the interviews with the participating Alevi citizens, various questions were asked to them. The questions asked were resolved through content analysis. The research consists of eight titles excluding introduction and conclusion. In the first title, information about the research subject and scope, the purpose and importance of the research, the method preferred in the research and the research area are given. In the second title, the definition of Alevism and its emergence process, in the third title, the heart system and the institution of dedehood in Alevism, in the fourth title from Alevism worship and the month of Muharram, in the fifth title from companionship and fondness in Alevism, in the sixth title from the funeral and burial traditions in Alevism, in the seventh title from the relationship of Alevism to cafeteria and Sunnism, In the eighth title, exemplary personalities in Alevism, and in the ninth title, various findings obtained from the interviews of Akçadağ region Alevism are given. In the last part, the results of the findings obtained as a result of the interviews with Alevi citizens residing in various neighborhoods of Malatya Akçadağ District during the research process are given. In the research, the historical background of the religious life of the Alevis living in the Akçadağ region of Malatya in the socio-cultural structure was examined, information was obtained about the hearths they belonged to, the dedes they belonged to, and it was concluded that their belief practices had an effect on the people. In the research, it has been determined that the majority of Alevis in the Akçadağ region, especially those from the older generation, are influenced by the Alevi faith teachings at every stage of their lives, and they pay attention to whether every step they take is in accordance with these teachings. In addition, it has been determined that there was a strong commitment to the authority, that is, to the dedes and pirs, but that this commitment is not present in the youth, and that the spirituality of the youth is weakened.